Garrett Martin of the Maine Center for Economic Policy told the rally that the top 1 percent of taxpayers would get a $21,600 average annual benefit from a fully implemented rate cut and the bottom 137,000 households just a single dollar. Alfond says the bill could pass and Engage Maine's description is accurate.
GIVING THE GOVERNOR THE RIGHT TO HIDE HIS PAPERS FROM PUBLIC VIEW, LD 1805 Although LePage promised a transparent administration, this bill would carve out a big exemption from the Freedom of Access Law. Alfond says it has "a very good chance" of passing.
RESTRICTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, LD 1725 This bill would make it harder to qualify, and vacation pay would be counted against benefits. Alfond says this bill's passage is "a solid possibility."
There are other bills that concern Engage Maine, including those restricting collective bargaining (LDs 309 and 1894) and restructuring the Department of Health and Human Services (LD 1887). There's also a "takings" bill (LD 1810), allowing people to get money from the state by claiming new state regulations significantly reduce their property's value.
The Legislature has not yet focused on LD 1746, another governor's supplemental budget bill. It would make human-services cuts to cover DHHS's possible $100-million-plus MaineCare (Medicaid) shortfall expected in the next fiscal year. A bill passed in February closed a $120-million MaineCare gap in the current fiscal year.
Topics:
This Just In
, GOP, John Martin, Natural Resources Council of Maine, More 
, GOP, John Martin, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, Aroostook County, Justin Alfond, Engage Maine, Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, Lisa Pohlmann, Less 
